June 09, 2017

EDO - Kobikicho timber cutter district

Located to the Eastern side of Sanjugenborikawa (Sanjukken Canal) , from sub-district 1 to 7. In the beginning of the Edo period, many construction workers using large timber saws 木挽 lived and worked here.

kobiki-noko 木挽鋸（こびきのこ） saw of a Kobiki worker

- quote - Kobiki Nokogiri and Temagari Nokogiri - Timber Saws Kobiki-Nokogiri were used in ancient Japan for the rough ripping of logs into boards for carpenters and cabinetmakers. These saws were used by one man, in contrast to Europe, where typically two men used a ripsaw for similar purposes. To properly guide them in very long cuts, the blades of Kobiki-Nokogiri, also known as Maebiki-Nokogiri, were much wider than those of other saws. The saws were roughly made, and at times still showed the smith's forge marks. Blades were laboriously hand-tapered from teeth to back to prevent jamming. - source : fine-tools.com/kobiki -

葛飾北斎 Katsushika Hokusai - 木挽 Kobiki cutting wood

In 1642, the 山村座 Yamamuraza Kabuki Theater was constructed in the 6th sub-district and in 1660, the 森田座 Moritaza (Morita-Za) was constructed in the 5th sub-district. But the Yamamura-Za was closed in 1714 due to the 絵島事件 "Ejima incident". At that time there ware more than 16 Chaya tea houses in the district.